The American Red Cross wants to clarify what's needed after certain donations have had to be turned away after the historic flooding in Louisiana.

Greg Roques, communications and marketing manager with the Louisiana Region of the American Red Cross, said the organization does not accept clothing donations. Instead, they focus on emerging needs immediately after a disaster.

Advertisement

"A lot of people are coming forward with items like clothing, and right now when people have lost their homes, they're going through and they're cleaning, restoring, and they don't have anywhere to keep some of these items," Roques said.

Roques said the best way to help is to volunteer time or donate money.

"Financial donations immediately go into the field to transport those volunteers here with the response vehicles and out into the field, so we can bring meals and relief items to people working in their neighborhoods," Roques said.

He said medical and mental health professionals are also needed.

"People have gone through a lot and are going to need to talk to somebody, and we need some people who are trained in that to assist us in that as well."